Wall Street Journal: A sweeping Pacific trade pact meant to bind the U.S.and Asia effectively died Friday, as Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress told the White House they won’t advance it in the election’s aftermath, and Obama administration officials acknowledged it has no way forward now.

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Wall Street Journal: A sweeping Pacific trade pact meant to bind the U.S.and Asia effectively died Friday, as Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress told the White House they won’t advance it in the election’s aftermath, and Obama administration officials acknowledged it has no way forward now.

The TPP is an attack on our very freedoms. The ISDS, the legal framework created by the agreement places power over Government decisions in the hands of ISDS Courts that draw their judges not from the judiciary, but from lawyers employed by the same corporations whi will do the suing. My earlier article is here. Buzzfeed have done a wonderful story about ISDS - precis below then link to full article.

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The TPP is an attack on our very freedoms. The ISDS, the legal framework created by the agreement places power over Government decisions in the hands of ISDS Courts that draw their judges not from the judiciary, but from lawyers employed by the same corporations whi will do the suing. My earlier article is here. Buzzfeed have done a wonderful story about ISDS - precis below then link to full article.

There are lots of stories in the media claiming that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is dead for now. Thi screates a false sense of security that will b eexploited for a quick lame duck vote. We need to be on the defensive about this.

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There are lots of stories in the media claiming that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is dead for now. Thi screates a false sense of security that will b eexploited for a quick lame duck vote. We need to be on the defensive about this.

So, that happened. This week, Philadelphia played host to the 2016 Democratic National Convention, where the big issue of the week was party unification after a bruising primary fight between Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and the man she dispatched, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. But while Sanders’ supporters have, to some extent, made peace with Clinton’s nomination, one issue emerged on which Sanders supporters, in alignment with economic liberals, refused to back down ― the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.

The TPP ran into a storm of protest at the DNC Convention this past week. Here is a great report of where the DNC is up to on the TPP, thanks to the Huffington Post.

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So, that happened. This week, Philadelphia played host to the 2016 Democratic National Convention, where the big issue of the week was party unification after a bruising primary fight between Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and the man she dispatched, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. But while Sanders’ supporters have, to some extent, made peace with Clinton’s nomination, one issue emerged on which Sanders supporters, in alignment with economic liberals, refused to back down ― the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.

The TPP ran into a storm of protest at the DNC Convention this past week. Here is a great report of where the DNC is up to on the TPP, thanks to the Huffington Post.

]]>http://www.libertycampaign.org/liberals-put-corporate-democrats-on-blast-over-trans-pacific-partnershipUnder the TPP there will be no Medicare and you will pay!Fri, 22 Jul 2016 18:14:16 +0000Fri, 22 Jul 2016 18:14:16 +0000http://www.libertycampaign.org/under-the-tpp-there-will-be-no-medicare-and-you-will-payLiberty Campaign

Quite simply the TPP is not compatible with Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and it is not compatible with a fair and caring society. It must not be passed. This article from GlobalTradeWatch via Medium is a great summary of the healthcare implications of the TPP.

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Quite simply the TPP is not compatible with Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and it is not compatible with a fair and caring society. It must not be passed. This article from GlobalTradeWatch via Medium is a great summary of the healthcare implications of the TPP.

CUB are owned by SAB Miller, the world's second largest brewer (Profit AUD$4 billion), and in the process of merging with Anheuser-Busch InBev (profit AUD$13 billion). The replacement workers are under contract at 65% lower wages, once the TPP comes in they can sack even those scabs and replace them with imported Vietnamese contract labour at $5 an hour, paid into their Vietnamese bank accounts according to Vietnamese wage rates.

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CUB are owned by SAB Miller, the world's second largest brewer (Profit AUD$4 billion), and in the process of merging with Anheuser-Busch InBev (profit AUD$13 billion). The replacement workers are under contract at 65% lower wages, once the TPP comes in they can sack even those scabs and replace them with imported Vietnamese contract labour at $5 an hour, paid into their Vietnamese bank accounts according to Vietnamese wage rates.

The TPP has 5 sections on trade and 24 on compliance and corporate governance. All of which give MegaCorp powers to ignore the Local, State and Federal Governments and do whatever they want. This is going to be a disaster for we the people and our ability to control our own governance.

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The TPP has 5 sections on trade and 24 on compliance and corporate governance. All of which give MegaCorp powers to ignore the Local, State and Federal Governments and do whatever they want. This is going to be a disaster for we the people and our ability to control our own governance.

The TPP replaces democracy and sovereignty by creating a class of Mega Corporation that is literally above the law. Worse they can sue the government for NOT doing something, such as not selling off schools or power generation. The TPP is literally the end of democracy & sovereignty. This is the end game for the elite, if they win the TPP they win everything. Who lines up on which side will show who works for us, and who works for them.

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The TPP replaces democracy and sovereignty by creating a class of Mega Corporation that is literally above the law. Worse they can sue the government for NOT doing something, such as not selling off schools or power generation. The TPP is literally the end of democracy & sovereignty. This is the end game for the elite, if they win the TPP they win everything. Who lines up on which side will show who works for us, and who works for them.

The US Trade Commission has released a report that shows the benefits of the TPP have been significantly overstated, and that 36 out of 55 industries will suffer a worse trade deficit. Overall the TPP will cause the trade deficit to worsen. This is the reverse of the lies we are being told. Remember that Australia's DFAT puts the benefit of the TPP in Australia at 0.3%, which means we are going to go backward further than the USA.

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The US Trade Commission has released a report that shows the benefits of the TPP have been significantly overstated, and that 36 out of 55 industries will suffer a worse trade deficit. Overall the TPP will cause the trade deficit to worsen. This is the reverse of the lies we are being told. Remember that Australia's DFAT puts the benefit of the TPP in Australia at 0.3%, which means we are going to go backward further than the USA.

]]>http://www.libertycampaign.org/tpp-us-trade-commission-benefits-overstated-trade-deficit-will-worsenWhat is wrong with the TPP in 4 minutes by GetUpSat, 21 May 2016 23:25:38 +0000Sat, 21 May 2016 23:25:38 +0000http://www.libertycampaign.org/what-is-wrong-with-the-tpp-in-4-minutes-by-getupLiberty Campaign

Various experts explaining what is wrong with the TPP, simple and entirely accurate.Support GetUp! Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rVCqWw

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Various experts explaining what is wrong with the TPP, simple and entirely accurate.Support GetUp! Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rVCqWw

]]>http://www.libertycampaign.org/what-is-wrong-with-the-tpp-in-4-minutes-by-getupObama on TPP: Lie about supporting it until after the electionSat, 14 May 2016 20:38:39 +0000Sat, 14 May 2016 20:38:39 +0000http://www.libertycampaign.org/obama-on-tpp-lie-about-supporting-it-until-after-the-electionLiberty Campaign

Direct quote from President Obama: "I think after the primary season is over, the politics settle down a little bit...we all know that elections can sometimes make things a little more challenging. And people take positions in part to protect themselves from attacks during the course of election season." In other words we are going to lie to win election then pass the TPP.

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Direct quote from President Obama: "I think after the primary season is over, the politics settle down a little bit...we all know that elections can sometimes make things a little more challenging. And people take positions in part to protect themselves from attacks during the course of election season." In other words we are going to lie to win election then pass the TPP.

The Globalist: The presidential primary campaigns of both political parties have exposed widespread voter anger over U.S. global trade policies. In response, hardly a day has recently gone by without the New York Times, the Washington Post and other defenders of the status quo lecturing their readers on why unregulated foreign trade is good for them. The ultimate conclusion is always the same – that voters should leave complicated issues like this to those intellectually better qualified to deal with them. So much for democracy.

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The Globalist: The presidential primary campaigns of both political parties have exposed widespread voter anger over U.S. global trade policies. In response, hardly a day has recently gone by without the New York Times, the Washington Post and other defenders of the status quo lecturing their readers on why unregulated foreign trade is good for them. The ultimate conclusion is always the same – that voters should leave complicated issues like this to those intellectually better qualified to deal with them. So much for democracy.

IBTIMES: President Barack Obama last week renewed his push for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, suggesting that it will be easier to pass the deal after the elections are over. The idea is that lawmakers will then be more insulated from political influence. Yet Obama has his own potential incentives to push for the TPP: His presidential foundation has been relying on support from industries that could profit from the agreement.

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IBTIMES: President Barack Obama last week renewed his push for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, suggesting that it will be easier to pass the deal after the elections are over. The idea is that lawmakers will then be more insulated from political influence. Yet Obama has his own potential incentives to push for the TPP: His presidential foundation has been relying on support from industries that could profit from the agreement.

ZeroHedge: Public opposition to the sovereignty killing corporate giveaway marketed as a free trade deal known as the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) has become so widespread that all the leading candidates for the U.S. Presidency are publicly against it. Specifically, Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders are virulently opposed, while Hillary Clinton is pretending to be against it in order to harvest votes.

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ZeroHedge: Public opposition to the sovereignty killing corporate giveaway marketed as a free trade deal known as the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) has become so widespread that all the leading candidates for the U.S. Presidency are publicly against it. Specifically, Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders are virulently opposed, while Hillary Clinton is pretending to be against it in order to harvest votes.

The TPP is the next weapon of income theft. Over the last 30 years workers have increased their productivity, which means we are working harder and smarter. We have given up holidays, leave loading, shift loading - entitlements large and small. As a result our economy is more efficient and more flexible, and has grown accordingly. There is more money to go around. The problem is we are not getting any of that efficiency dividend. Capital and Senior Management are taking it all, plus some of what used to be ours.

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The TPP is the next weapon of income theft. Over the last 30 years workers have increased their productivity, which means we are working harder and smarter. We have given up holidays, leave loading, shift loading - entitlements large and small. As a result our economy is more efficient and more flexible, and has grown accordingly. There is more money to go around. The problem is we are not getting any of that efficiency dividend. Capital and Senior Management are taking it all, plus some of what used to be ours.

First Disney, now Abbott Labs. How could a decent human being even look an employee in the face and say: "you are fired, but before you go you are required to train your replacement who we are importing from a third world country so we can pay them less and line our own pockets with even higher executive bonuses". This can be done now in the USA, albeit not very legally, the TPP will make it legal and extend it to Australia.]]>

First Disney, now Abbott Labs. How could a decent human being even look an employee in the face and say: "you are fired, but before you go you are required to train your replacement who we are importing from a third world country so we can pay them less and line our own pockets with even higher executive bonuses". This can be done now in the USA, albeit not very legally, the TPP will make it legal and extend it to Australia.]]>

As Techdirt has noted, there is evidencefrommultiplesources that TPP will produce negligible economic benefits for most of the nations involved. Some governments are clearly well aware of this, because they are desperate to avoid an objective cost-benefit evaluation that would show that claims about TPP's value don't stack up. Even given that pig-headed determination to push the deal through, basic prudence would surely dictate that before making all the complex legislative changes required by TPP, countries should at least wait to see whether it's going to happen.

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As Techdirt has noted, there is evidencefrommultiplesources that TPP will produce negligible economic benefits for most of the nations involved. Some governments are clearly well aware of this, because they are desperate to avoid an objective cost-benefit evaluation that would show that claims about TPP's value don't stack up. Even given that pig-headed determination to push the deal through, basic prudence would surely dictate that before making all the complex legislative changes required by TPP, countries should at least wait to see whether it's going to happen.

Richard Hopkins: Our Pension system (Aussies call it "super") is a ponzi scheme albeit a benevolent one. In a zero interest rate environment it relies on the contributions of new members to pay the pensions and the operating costs of retiring members. Now if there are no new members because you have exported your jobs overseas, then there is no new cash coming in and you have a funding crisis.

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Richard Hopkins: Our Pension system (Aussies call it "super") is a ponzi scheme albeit a benevolent one. In a zero interest rate environment it relies on the contributions of new members to pay the pensions and the operating costs of retiring members. Now if there are no new members because you have exported your jobs overseas, then there is no new cash coming in and you have a funding crisis.

Share buybacks are a major cause of the recent bull market. Driven by low interest rates and money printing, MegaCorp is awash with cash. Rather than spend this on developing their company's competitive advantage they instead borrow at near-zero interest rates and return that value to shareholders by buying their own stock. That provides short term share price and executive bonus joy. It also weakens the company in the long term. So it is not happenstance that The TPP has been written to protect MegaCorp from the consequences of lining their pockets today with tomorrow's profits.

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Share buybacks are a major cause of the recent bull market. Driven by low interest rates and money printing, MegaCorp is awash with cash. Rather than spend this on developing their company's competitive advantage they instead borrow at near-zero interest rates and return that value to shareholders by buying their own stock. That provides short term share price and executive bonus joy. It also weakens the company in the long term. So it is not happenstance that The TPP has been written to protect MegaCorp from the consequences of lining their pockets today with tomorrow's profits.

The TPP is going to cause havoc to employment and wages. Australia is not the only Country being betrayed by the Auto Sector (Ford, GM and Toyota are all closing their Australian plants). Ford Motor Company USA announced plans to manufacture 500,000 vehicles at its new factory in Mexico in 2018 — and the company isn’t alone in the move. The announcement came after delegates from 12 countries signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the massive treaty ironically called a ‘free trade deal,’ which analysts have predicted could cause the loss of nearly half a million U.S. jobs.

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The TPP is going to cause havoc to employment and wages. Australia is not the only Country being betrayed by the Auto Sector (Ford, GM and Toyota are all closing their Australian plants). Ford Motor Company USA announced plans to manufacture 500,000 vehicles at its new factory in Mexico in 2018 — and the company isn’t alone in the move. The announcement came after delegates from 12 countries signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the massive treaty ironically called a ‘free trade deal,’ which analysts have predicted could cause the loss of nearly half a million U.S. jobs.

Peterson Institute Study Shows TPP Will Lead to $357 Billion Increase in annual imports, exactly the same as the figure for increased exports. So while the TPP means that the volume of trade will increase, there is no income benefit to the nations participating. Job losses will equal job gains. The winners are MegaCorp, who are more easily able to move capital around (and now low cost workers into high cost countries), with those increased profits going straight into their pockets. Wages will fall, tax revenue will fall as local business is forced out of business.

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Peterson Institute Study Shows TPP Will Lead to $357 Billion Increase in annual imports, exactly the same as the figure for increased exports. So while the TPP means that the volume of trade will increase, there is no income benefit to the nations participating. Job losses will equal job gains. The winners are MegaCorp, who are more easily able to move capital around (and now low cost workers into high cost countries), with those increased profits going straight into their pockets. Wages will fall, tax revenue will fall as local business is forced out of business.

The next step in the march to serfdom is upon us. On February 4th member nations will sign off on the treaty. They will then have 2 years to ratify the treaty through their national parliaments. So now what happens?

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The next step in the march to serfdom is upon us. On February 4th member nations will sign off on the treaty. They will then have 2 years to ratify the treaty through their national parliaments. So now what happens?

So yes we can leave the agreement. Section 30:6 makes that quite clear. Once started however, any claim against Australia, an Australian Corporation, an Australian individual or entity will still proceed.

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So yes we can leave the agreement. Section 30:6 makes that quite clear. Once started however, any claim against Australia, an Australian Corporation, an Australian individual or entity will still proceed.

]]>http://www.libertycampaign.org/tpp6-yes-we-can-leave-the-agreementTransCanada Sues the US for Rejecting Keystone XL; Will This Be the New Normal Under TPP?Fri, 08 Jan 2016 20:34:24 +0000Fri, 08 Jan 2016 20:34:24 +0000http://www.libertycampaign.org/transcanada-sues-the-us-for-rejecting-keystone-xl-will-this-be-the-new-normal-under-tppLiberty Campaign

On Wednesday 6-1-15, TransCanada Corporation filed an ISDS lawsuit in US federal court alleging President Obama's rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline exceeded his power under the US Constitution and contradicted the North AMerican Free Trade Agreement.

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On Wednesday 6-1-15, TransCanada Corporation filed an ISDS lawsuit in US federal court alleging President Obama's rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline exceeded his power under the US Constitution and contradicted the North AMerican Free Trade Agreement.